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Description

Shoshone Ice Caves are lava tubes with the typical collapsed roof serving
as an entrance.
The cold trap effect and the extremely different temperatures in Idaho between
summer and winter make it perfect ice cave.
The cold air flowing down into the cave during winter freezes all water entering
the cave through fractures, producing a continuous layer of ice.
The temperature inside the cave is constant. although it differs between
different parts of the cave between -7°C and 0.5°C.
At the same time the outside temperature may reach 37°C.
Warm clothes and sturdy shoes are a good idea.

This lava tube is - as it is typical for this kind of cave - a single tube,
almost straight, and more than 300m long.
The passage is up to 12m high and between 3 and 10m wide.
The path is built as a wooden bridge above the thick layer of ice covering almost
the whole cave floor.
The cave ends with a wall of ice.

The caves are sometimes called a tourist trap.
Obviously the cave is a unique sight which is very interesting, still it is not
very spectacular.
Former owners tried to improve the cave by installing various sculpures outside
and even some dioramas inside the cave.
The ones inside, like the skating girl and yesteryear's elf, were fortunately
removed.
Still there are a green dinosaur with a cave man sitting on its neck, a
three-story high Chief Wasakie statue and a bull at the museum entrance which
have survived.
Concrete sculptures of early natives, stone age (ice) cave men and women, stand
along the path down to the cave.
Although they are of doubtful beauty, they are a great fun for children.

The place is mentioned in various legends and even said to be haunted.
The Indian Princess Edahow was buried in the ice, and
waits patiently to reemerge.
About the same category is the story of the cave bear found inside the cave.
Cave bears did not live in America, they are only found in Europe.

Nearby Shoshone Ice Caves is Bennett Hills Recreation Management Area which has
fourteen lava tubes.
One of them, called T-Maze Caves is accessible for visitors but
undeveloped.
There is also a cave which is the best example of a
blister cave
in Idaho.
This area is administered by the Bureau of Land Management.